Ok, I've got some questions and I'm not ashamed to ask them as I've never owned a 1911 until now even though I've shot plenty. I could google for hours to get the info but I'd rather get it from the trusted OB. I have a Springfield Armory 1911A1 most of you probably saw on my other thread. It is about as close as you can get to the WWII 1911 (as opposed to Springfield's other 1911-A1 model that has more mods). I plan on building and modifying it over time so I'm not too concerned with keeping it original. Here goes:

1. Why are ejection ports lowered and flared? Is it worth having done? Mine isn't.

2. How hard is it to add combat sights? Do I need to replace the low profile GI front sight too?

3. I have an arched mainspring housing with a stupid internal lock. Can I just replace it with a different one? What about a flat housing?

4. What is the best resource to learn how to disassemble my gun? Preferably something with step by step instructions and pictures.

5. What "basic" tweaks or mods would you recommend for a stock 1911?

6. Should I/how do I polish the feed ramp? It seems straightforward but I've heard you can mess it up if you're not careful.

7. Can I do my own trigger job? What exactly happens when you do a trigger job on a stock trigger?

8. Where are the best places to get parts and accessories and not get ripped off? Cheaperthandirt didn't have a whole lot...

Thanks y'all, that's all I can thing of now. I'll add to this and bump if necessary. Or maybe the mods will sticky it or add it to the FAQ's like the AR thread...

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I don't have much to offer, but whenever I purchase my first 1911 my immediate response will be to hit up tx4guns for some bada$$ grips.

I highly recommend disassembly and reassembly be conducted with a friend who owns one, for the first time.

I'm saying this from personal experience. You can actually screw up the gun.

Oh don't worry, he'll be gettin some of my $. I'm thinking some olive green synthetic ones.

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as a new Springer 1911 owner as well, this will be a popcorn thread for me!

Although a trigger job may be nice, learing how to disassemble it is the only thing there is really an immediate need for.



My advice is shoot the hell out of it before you start spending money on it.

Oh, forgot to mention that I've had a Colt M1991A1 for about 10 years now. It's 100% stock and goes bang EVERY time no matter what ammo I've put through it. I can't fathom messing with the feed ramp or ejection port because there's no need. Hopefully yours will be just as reliable. I'd wait until you have issues to start messing with that stuff.

Welcome to the 1911 brotherhood. A 100 year old design by the master, John Moses Browning. There is no going back. You can modify yours to a unique piece that fits you perfectly, or you can just shoot it. You got a deal on that Springer.
Questions:
1. Ejection port lowered and flared to prevent brass from getting dinged up and may help shells eject smoothly.
2. Gunsmith can install good sights for you.
3. Yes/Yes.
4. Youtube.
5. Trigger job- gunsmith
6. Gunsmith
7. No.
8. Midway USA -with tx4gun's discount

Thanks Trident. I have an FFL and account with Midway so I get the discount too. Just didn't seem like there were a whole lot of accessories but I admittedly haven't spent a lot of time on it.

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Brownells is better for parts.

I'll add a little more to Trident's reply. I have a couple of 1911's, and they seem to be as bad as black rifle disease, you can't seem to just have one. Although they seem to be pretty modular, most modifications should be left up to a gunsmith. There is a lot of hand fitting that goes into installing new parts, especially in the fire control group.

2. Shouldn't be too difficult for a good gunsmith, but they may have to machine new grooves depending on the type of sights you want. Brownells sells machine bits that are angled for the popular sights.

3. It can definitely be replaced. You probably want to make sure to get a metal housing, some are plastic.

4. I learned from Youtube and forums.1911forum.com. The forums are a pretty good place to get info and ideas.

5. Trigger job/hammer and a beavertail safety. Magwells are pretty nice too, especially if you are thinking of replacing the mainspring housing anyway. A USGI guide rod is another easy addition that makes it easier to field strip (yours may have it already). New grips are also an easy way to make it yours. You should also pick up some good mags, Wilson Combat or Chip McCormick are what I use.

6. This should only be done by a gunsmith. I looked into doing it myself also, but it seems like the 1911 design is very particular to the angle of the ramp and it can be messed up very easily.

7. See above. When you do a trigger job, you adjust the angle and amount of surface area contact of the sear. There are jigs available to do it, but you can easily go too far and make your gun unsafe.

8. Brownells has a ton of parts, but they aren't the cheapest. Another great place is www.fusionfirearms.com. They are a custom shop that can build you anything you want, and they have great aftermarket parts.

Congratulations on the new gun, and have fun with it!

Thanks aggiechris02. tx4guns is already working me over for some grips. Guy is like a used car salesman!

j/k

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...and a trigger job and feedramp polish. Did all my own pistols, and I've gotten good at it. I have the tools and jigs.

i second 1911forum.com. i learned a lot there when i got my first 1911 some time back.

Most of the questions were already answered, but polishing the feed ramp is easy.

I polished mine with a dremel tool and their polishing compound. It's polishing, not grinding - all you are doing is buffing out the machine marks and smoothing out the ramp. You would have to really try hard and polish for hours to change the angle. I also suggest polishing the chamber and putting a light polish around the edge of the chamber. Usually the factory barrel has some pretty sharp edges here that can (not always, but can) cause FTF's depending on the ammo. Lighly polishing this edge to remove the sharpness and put just a touch of roundness on it will really smooth out the action.

As a rule, I polish the feed ramp and chamber of pretty much every firearm I own. It's amazing what such a simple job can do to reliability and function.

In the 1991A1 Officers that was recently stolen from me, I put the trigger on myself. I got lucky though, according to my gunsmith, and managed to do the job right. I had to take it to him to get the ambi safety (a must if you shoot left handed) installed and had him look at it while he was there.

Sights aren't that big of a deal to change out if they are both dovetail. If your front sight has the post mount, just pay the $50 to a gunsmith because he will have the right setting tool.

Mags are pretty much user preference. I've had great luck with Wilson, Chip McCormick and Colt brands personally.

1911s are awesome - best semi pistol design and look ever invented. Unfortunately they aren't quite as modular as an AR and for pretty much anything internal you need to make sure you either know what you are doing or take it to somebody that does.

I went to champion firearms today and held a few 1911's... that is just bad for my health. I really shouldn't tempt myself like that

I'll let tx4guns show me how to polish the ramp... then I'll feel comfortable doing it myself. Thanks for the advice though.

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So about the ejection port: is brass fired from an unlowered port still reloadable? Because I plan on reloading soon...

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Most definitely. The scallopped ejection port is to improve reliability by minimizing FTE's.

Even if your brass gets a little ding in it, it's usually just fine. I've put many a round through the pipe on reloaded brass that had an ejection ding, in both the 1911 and the AR.

Lot's of videos on Youtube on how to disassemble and reassemble a 1911.

These are the videos that helped me - guy detail strips a Mil-Spec Springfield and puts it back together

Part One - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufd6W1a2NHc

Part Two - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iXH1cTlu14

Part Three - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DG_q-5xcss

I was able to detail strip my Loaded model by following these, and if I can do it, pretty much anyone can.

You can ditch the ILS mainspring housing and replace it with any one you want. As others have mentioned, Brownells seems to have the most parts.

Sounds like tx4guns can help with the feed ramp polishing, but here's a good thread discussing the DIY option:

http://www.texaschlforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=37308&hilit=feed+ramp


[This message has been edited by metrag06 (edited 1/5/2011 8:46a).]

Thanks metrag. That's a great video. I'll have it apart tonight.

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Will any beavertail grip safety fit on my WWII Milspec? I've heard different frames take different sizes. Do I need a special size?

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Any "drop in" BT should fit BUT they are ugly. If you want it done right you will need to spend some jack on an Ed Brown or Wilson BT and your pistol will need to be refinished afterwards. I will show you the difference on my pistols tonight.

Welcome!
I bought a Rock Island Tactical last year.
It came with some semi-custom touches: beavertail, bobbed hammer, nice sights...
I did two things: tx4guns grips, 2 extra mags.
500 rounds fired, zero problems.
I love the piece.

I posted this on the 1911 mag thread, but this one seems to be getting more traffic

quote:

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On a mag-related note - I noticed last night while walking the dogs that the Wilson mag I was using was rattling quite a bit. I also noticed that the rounds in my spare (metalform) mag were rattling in my cargo pocket.

Does anyone know of anything that can be done to cut down on the noise? It was probably not loud enough for someone to notice if they didn't know I was carrying, but it was loud enough that my wife commented on it.

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